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COURSE CARE

Salt Heat And Drought Are Poor Companions
February 27, 2015

Salt Heat And Drought Are Poor Companions

By Bud White, Director
July 7, 2008

When summer heats up in the South, bentgrass managers turn
their attention to disease, Localized Dry Spot (LDS), algae, fan
operations, and of course, hand watering.

Water management and
moisture checking
are sometimes confusing topics. The total mat or organic
accumulation layer on a high sand green can range from Â½" to
4" deep, depending on the age of the green. Often,
hot spot checkers
only test moisture in this zone. It is actually the 1" to 1
Â½" immediately below the organic accumulation zone that can
be a problem.

In high sand greens, the moisture from 1 Â½"
below
the organic layer can be drawn out by the organic layer through
wick action. Remember, salts wick with the water as well. This is
why LDS can occur when moisture seems adequate in the organic mat
layer. When temperatures become extreme, wilt can occur in a
matter of hours with salt accumulations present. Moreover, this
can occur in high and low areas at the same time.

Moisture checks must be in this underlying zone as well
prevent more rapid root dieback and salt accumulations. Watering
times, even light cycles, should be adjusted to add moisture to
this layer and not just the organic or mat layer. If this layer
does not receive moisture from irrigation, dry patches and wilt
will occur, even though moisture seems to be present in the
organic zone by the touch and visual inspection. Hand watering is
the key component to balancing water in all areas of the green.
As a side note to golfersâ€¦hand watering greens will never be
eliminated by a new irrigation system!
The success of moisture management is largely dependent on
understanding the dynamics of water in the root zone.

Take your hand watering personnel out to LDS areas and observe
this layered drying with a profiler instead of just a soil probe.
It will give them a much clearer understanding of the mechanics
of such a critical job.

If you would like more information about a Turf Advisory
Service visit, please contact either of the Mid-Continent
regional offices: Bud White, (972) 662-1138 or (
budwhite@usga.org
) and Ty McClellan,
tmcclellan@usga.org
or (630) 340-5853.